Artistic Progression
About Trashy Fine Art Journey
Joe L. Talamante, Jr., a U. S. American Artist; born in 1949.
My mother is the first influence of art in my life. She had desires of being a commercial artist. We lived about a block and a half from down town Campbell, CA. Mom would take my sisters and I (at that time in the 1950s) my three sisters, for a walk to the local stationary store. That place filled my eyes. It had everything. There were chalks, finger paints, pencils, crayons, envelopes, all types of paper and paint brushes. It was like a candy shop. The stationary store owner had a special treat for us. He would take us to the backroom where there was a large paper cutter on a table. Next to the table was a box where scrap pieces of paper cuttings were collected. Our treat was we could take whatever cuttings we wanted. I wonder if this could be the very first beginnings of Trashy Fine Art?
In 2006 I began writing a autobiography about the progression of art in my life. I had an age in my mind of how old I was when artistic expression exhibited its self in me. I was curious when my mother noticed it and to my amazement, she said she noticed it at age one and a half. Unless the ALMIGHTY has me give it up, I believe I will continue with artistic expression through out the span of my life.
It was in third grade that I recall receiving the first artistic encouragement. And then when Junior High came along, I excelled in any art class I elected to take; it was the same with High School and Junior College. Because of the ease of accomplishment in which artistic expression occurred in school, art was the most natural major to state, when I transferred to SJSU. I believe it was 1974 and 75 that the art I produced began to have less classical expression. For example, in my watercolor class I composed a biodegradable watercolor that I used in the garden and an aluminum structured watercolor, which I recycled. Another one was a collection of different liquids that were bottled in clear Coca Cola bottles. I capped them close with hot wax. At this time I was also producing other non classical pieces in painting and drawing. As time went on, I began collecting free color; stamps on postage, ink tester color on plastic and pager products. I also collected bar codes, maps, numbers and small bits of color that I usually tossed out. After a period of time of collecting a particular free color source, I would compose a piece. The two images above are two examples of free color collected that I haven't composed a piece from yet. The color security rings are from plastic caps. The other group are plastic ties that are found on plastic baggings. Both security rings and bag ties are colorful and color that is usually tossed out.